The little hearty bookmark

I hadn’t done any crochet with cotton thread for a good while (a few years or so) but a few weeks ago I was at a cousin’s house when I noticed some unfinished cotton thread crochet on the shelf. After asking around I found out that the owner wasn’t my cousin or my aunt- but my cousin’s grandmother who (according to my brother-in-law) is around 90 years old. I was in awe. The intricacy of her work was stunning and 100% original seeing as she didn’t use any patterns! It wasn’t long before my mum, mother-in-law, cousin, aunt and I were crowded around our Gran with a crochet hook and thread eager to see her at work. And obviously keen to show off our own skills, we all had a go passing the swatch around, carrying on the pattern. When it came to my turn, our Gran let out a chuckle- apparently I have a strange technique when holding the needle! Who knew?

Anyway, this little encounter reintroduced me to the lovely daintiness of cotton thread crochet. So, carrying on the heart theme (in time for Valentine’s day) I thought I’d share a pattern for a little heart bookmark. If you fancy something different you could always just follow the pattern up to the completion of the heart and use it as an applique. I recently used one on a birthday card.

Using a 0.75mm crochet hook. The diagrams do get a little complicated near the end (plus it’s my first time using them!)but if you use it along side the pattern hopefully it will make sense.

Round 1

Round 1

Ch6

DC into 1st chain (shown in purple and referred to as ‘1st chain’ throughout the pattern) to form a loop

Ch3

DC into the same 1st chain

Ch 5

Sl st into 1st chain

Round 2

Round 2

Ch3

6DC together into chain space

Ch2

TC into next chain space

Ch2

6DC together into next chain space

Ch2

Sl st into 1st chain

Round 3

Round 3

*Ch3, SC into 2nd chain along* repeat 9 times

SC1, ch3

Sl st into 1st chain

Round 4

Round 4

Ch2

SC1, DC1, TC1

6TC together into chain space

*DC into next chain space* repeat 3 times

SC, TC, SC into next chain space

*DC into next chain space* repeat 3 times

6TC together into chain space

TC1, DC1, SC1

Sl st into 1st chain

Round 5

Round 5

Ch1

SC1, DC1

*2DC together in one stitch* repeat 5 times

*2SC together in one stitch* repeat 5 times

TC3

*2SC* together in one stitch* repeat 5 times

*2DC* together in one stitch* repeat 5 times

Sl st into 1st chain and finish off leaving a tail of ~100cm

Weave in any other loose ends

Assembly

Weave the tail through the to the bottom of the heart.

Pick up a loop and SC to secure.

Ch 90, leaving the last chain loose.

Cut 6 x10cm lengths of thread and fold. Slip through the loop at the base of the bookmark. Bring the loose ends through the loop made with the folded tassel threads. Pull through loosely. Then pull on the tail of the bookmark to tighten and secure the tassel.

Pull the tail of the book mark through the knot to join the tassel. Trim the tassel so it is all the same length.